Equity Equity - Net Income (Loss) Attributable to The AES Corporation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Consolidation, Less than Wholly Owned Subsidiary, Parent Ownership Interest, Effects of Changes, Net [Line Items]
Net income attributable to The AES Corporation	$ (85)	$ 180	$ 69	$ 142	$ 206	$ 488	$ 133	$ (58)	$ 306	$ 769	$ 114
Transfers from the noncontrolling interest:
Net increase in The AES Corporation's paid-in capital for sale of subsidiary shares											0
Increase in The AES Corporation's paid-in capital for purchase of subsidiary shares									0	7	0
Net transfers (to) from noncontrolling interest									(54)	36
Change from net income attributable to The AES Corporation and transfers (to) from noncontrolling interests									252	805
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Transfers from the noncontrolling interest:
Net increase in The AES Corporation's paid-in capital for sale of subsidiary shares									323	29	16
Increase in The AES Corporation's paid-in capital for purchase of subsidiary shares										7	$ (6)
Retained Earnings [Member]
Transfers from the noncontrolling interest:
Net increase in The AES Corporation's paid-in capital for sale of subsidiary shares									(377)	0
Increase in The AES Corporation's paid-in capital for purchase of subsidiary shares										0
IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] | Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Transfers from the noncontrolling interest:
Net increase in The AES Corporation's paid-in capital for sale of subsidiary shares									377
IPALCO Enterprises, Inc. [Member] | Retained Earnings [Member]
Transfers from the noncontrolling interest:
Net increase in The AES Corporation's paid-in capital for sale of subsidiary shares									$ (377)	$ 0